Swim Ulster has secured funding for fourteen of our leading swimmers under SportNI's Athlete Support Programme. This programme provides financial assistance towards implementing a high performance plan for each swimmer. Each swimmer will benefit from an individually tailored training and competition programme, complemented by access to Sports Science/Sports Medicine support. 

The swimmers who have been offered support under the Athlete Support Programme are;

• Matthew Bell - AHS
• Andrew Bree - Ards
• Melanie Nocher - Ards
• Michael Dawson - Ards
• Clare Dawson - Bangor
• Ryan Harrison - City of Derry
• Stephen Campbell - Cookstown
• Chelsey Wilson - Enniskillen
• Conor Leaney - Larne
• James Hamilton - Larne
• Sycerika McMahon - Leander
• Bethany Carson - Lisburn
• Jonny Cummings - Lurgan
• Laurence McGivern - Newry

Swim Ulster's Awards Manager, David Craig, said:

"I am delighted that we have managed to increase our number of Lottery funded swimmers from 8 to 14 this year. This reflects the hard work of our swimmers and their coaches. I am confident that, with the continued support of our SportNI Performance Consultant, Paul Johnston, each of the swimmers will continue to go from strength to strength".

The current Athlete Support Programme will continue until 31st December 2009. The next round will cover the 12 month period starting January 2010. Swim Ulster will notify all our clubs of the application process for next year when it becomes available (October/November 2009).